Disparate Interests

On Notes and The Jargon File

Two years ago, I decided to learn computer programming. It was scary because I had to learn a lot of new things but it was also fun and exciting because I had to learn a lot of new things. I bludgeoned all this new information into my brain, by jotting down all my thoughts, explanations, questions, definitions, and ideas related to programming. All of those – everything, in fact – was contained in one massive document. I named it Jargon.md and referred to as The Jargon File. Unbeknownst to me at the time, this was not the first Jargon file…

In 1975 students at SAIL created a file named AIWORD.RF which was collectively revised with the terminology and definitions springing from nascent hacker culture. The file was forked by students at MIT and renamed AI:MRC;SAIL JARGON aka the Jargon File. Throughout the 70’s and early 80’s the Jargon File was alive and contributed to by the likes of Mark Crispin, Don Woods, and Richard Stallman. I sort of organically stumbled upon the spirit and the exact name of The Jargon File. I took this as a good sign.

My notes here are cleaned up, sectioned, and formatted but they are all derived from my original Jargon File. Other than making everything prettier and available to the world, my goal is to treat my notes as I always have: a place to keep questions, important definitions, and hacky bits of knowledge as they enter my field of view.